New laser treatment will end discomfort of fillings

A London dentist is offering patients revolutionary "pain-free" laser fillings for the first time in the capital.

Harley Street-based Emmanouel Koloutsos is introducing a new system which does not require painkilling injections - and also spells the end to the whine of the dentist's drill.

Mr Koloutsos said: "This is going to revolutionise dentistry in this country and I predict that in the next 10 years every respectable practice will have one."

Rather than using a conventional drill to chip away at the tooth, the machine sends out lasers which are directed at areas of decay.

Rotten parts of a tooth contain more water than healthy parts and the lasers rapidly heat up the water molecules within these areas.

This causes them to "explode" and shatter, making a distinct popping sound which Mr Koloutsos likens to the sound of popcorn.

The laser also kills any bacteria in the area, so the healthy part of the tooth - which remains unscathed by the laser treatment - is also sterilised during the process. It can then be filled in the normal way.

Prices for a filling start at £75. The same treatment on the NHS is just over £40.

Mr Koloutsos said: "This process is quicker than a normal filling and there is no swelling and little pain. Patients may experience a little discomfort.

"While I work you can hear the laser popping as if it was a popcorn machine. It is great for patients who are frightened of the noise of the drill."

The 34-year-old, who will start using the laser at Harley Street Dental Clinic next month, hopes it will attract patients who are scared of the dentist, as well as children who need to have fillings.

Originally from Athens, Mr Koloutsos is the only dentist in Britain to have a Masters degree in laser dentistry.

A spokeswoman for the clinic said the £55,000 machine, which is already used by dentists in America, is significantly different fromother lasers currently in use. It can also be used for more complex procedures such as root canal fillings. She said: "This one can actually cut through the tooth and bone as well as working on the diseased part of the tooth, so there is no need for a saw or drill. "It is quicker than other machines and it sterilises as it goes because bacteria cannot survive after the diseased molecules have 'exploded'. It cuts the risk of infection significantly.

"Because the laser is so specific it does not agitate the surrounding nerves, so causes much less pain."